TERRESTRIAL AIDS TO
NAVIGATION IN ANTARCTICA
Introduction
Following the 3rd HCA meeting (2003), the IHB consulted
SCAR, COMNAP and IAATO to obtain views of ship operators on priorities for
terrestrial aids to navigation. The views and recommendations expressed have
been summarized below. More information can be found in Doc. HCA4-6.1B which is
on the IHO website. The following
statements in that document are worth noting:
It is extremely difficult and expensive to
place and maintain structures on the coastline of Antarctica. Erection of new
AtNs should be limited to where danger exists and where there is the highest
density of shipping. Also, there must be means to ensure good reliability of any
new AtN (a reliability factor of under 80% would probably be more dangerous than
helpful). Erecting such artificial
objects as AtNs may be considered as an act of a change in nature and
environment. In any case, this needs to be
in agreement with the Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol. Noting that several permanent geodetic GPS stations are
already operated for geodetic observations on the Antarctic Peninsula, a network
of three of these stations, e.g. Jubany-Dallmann, Palmer Base and Rothera Base,
could cover the entire AP region and supply all ships operating in this region
with high precision GPS positions for safe navigation (better than 10 m).
This list was forwarded to IHO Member States by CL 33/2005, suggesting that they bring this information to the attention of their national maritime administrations. Contact will be maintained with the above organization to update and enrich the list.
|
No. |
Area |
Type |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Comments |
Proposer |
|
1 |
N. Antarctic Peninsula, E. of the South Sandwich Is.,
Bransfield Strait |
Lighthouse |
61° 55’S |
057° 39’W |
The extreme Eastern part of
the South Sandwich Is. has be rounded when the vessel is on her way to
and from the Bransfield Strait. In front of the coast are some dangerous
rocks. |
Uwe Pahl, Master RV Polarstern[1],
Germany |
|
2 |
N. Antarctic Peninsula,
passage between W. of Joinville I. and the AP. |
Lighthouse / leading lights |
63° 22’S |
056° 35’W |
This is the passage between
the western part of Joinville I. and the Antarctic Peninsula. The
passage is relatively often used by vessels plying between Bransfield
Strait and the Weddell Sea. |
Uwe Pahl, Master RV
Polarstern, Germany |
|
3 |
N. Antarctic Peninsula, passage
to Neumeyer Channel and Pradise Bay. |
Lighthouse, light preferably
to be established with sectors |
64° 20’S |
062° 58’W |
The passage to areas like
Neumeyer Channel and Pradise Bay is frequently approached by tourist
vessels from North. |
Uwe Pahl, Master RV
Polarstern, Germany |
|
4 |
Antarctic Peninsula, Graham
Land, Butler Passage to Lemaire Channel |
Racon, Light and highly
visible tower/beacon. |
64 58.9S |
063 47.8W |
Heed Rock, low-lying rock |
John Pye, BAS[2] |
|
4 bis |
Antarctic Peninsula, Graham
Land, Butler Passage to Lemaire Channel |
Racon, Light and highly
visible tower/beacon |
64 57.8S |
063 47.1W |
Alternative site to Heed
Rock. The passage is very narrow at one point due to low lying rocks on
each side namely Heed Rock and Hazard Reef. Hazard Reef presently has a
small beacon but it is very hard to see. Again these rocks are low lying
and position fixing by radar and visual bearing can be hampered by bergs
and bergy bits leading to incorrect identification. A good beacon
readily identifiable with certain position would greatly lessen the
chance of grounding. |
John Pye, BAS |
|
5 |
Antarctic Peninsula,
Argentine (Irizar) Islands & Graham Land, French Passage/Penola
Strait. |
Racon, Light and highly
visible tower/beacon |
65 13.0S |
064 12.5W |
Fanfare Island. The whole of
this archipelago is low lying. If making an approach in from the west
fixing position with certainty by radar before dangers exist is
difficult. The safe approach via French Passage into Penola St is
difficult. Again the abundant presence of bergs and bergy bits makes
correct identification of radar targets very difficult |
John Pye, BAS |
|
5 bis |
Antarctic Peninsula,
Argentine (Irizar) Islands & Graham Land, French Passage/Penola
Strait. |
Racon, Light and highly
visible tower/beacon |
65 11.4S |
064 12.3W |
Alternative to Fanfare. The
whole of this archipelago is low lying. If making an approach in from
the west fixing position with certainty by radar before dangers exist is
difficult. The safe approach via French Passage into Penola St is
difficult. Again the abundant presence of bergs and bergy bits makes
correct identification of radar targets very difficult |
John Pye, BAS |
|
6 |
Antarctic Peninsula,
Argentine (Irizar) Islands Graham
Land, Southwind Channe l/ Grandidier Channel. |
Racon, Light and highly
visible tower/beacon |
65 20.0S |
064 32.8W |
Gedges Rocks. |
John Pye, BAS |
|
6 bis |
Antarctic Peninsula,
Argentine (Irizar) Islands Graham
Land, Southwind Channe l/ Grandidier Channel. |
Racon, Light and highly
visible tower/beacon |
65 22.5S |
064 19.6W |
Somerville Island as an
alternative to Gedges Rocks. |
John Pye, BAS |
|
7 |
Antarctic Peninsula, Austin
Rocks, lying south of Deception in the middle of the southern end of the
Bransfield Strait and Boyd Strait
|
Racon, or light beacon |
63 26S |
061 05W |
All shipping heading
southwards of the S. Shetlands will pass these rocks if taking the
Gerlache Strait. These rocks are low lying and if small bergs are
present, bergs could be wrongly identified as Austin Rocks leading to a
danger of grounding. |
John Pye, BAS |